MILITARY ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 17720, 22 July 1921, Page 8

MILITARY ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL

A QUESTION OF CONTROL, HEALTH OK TOURIST DEPARTMENT? [Special to thb 1 Star.’] _ CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. The mill tan’ orthopedic hospitals at Hanmer and Rotorua, which have done work of the very greatest value since their foundation, are to ho transferred before long to civil control. The question is which shall take charge of them—the Health Department or the Tourist Department? Dr Valintine, Director-General of Hospitals, who has returned to Christchurch after visiting the Hanmer institution with Brigadier-general M'Gavin, Director-General of Medical Services, put the Health Department’s case plainly to a reporter. There was no comparison, ho saul, between the use of mineral baths to treat rheumatism and skin diseases on the one hand, and on the other the practice of orthopaedic surgery in accordance with the new methods developed during the war. The Tourist Department's primary function was to provide facilities and attractions for tourists. How it could bo considered a suitable department for the control of highly-specialised hospitals ho quite failed to understand. The two institutions, continued J> Valintine, havebeen splendidly equipped with electrical and other apparatus, and t!ie staffs have been specially selected and trained for the work. - The‘Health Department was entirely prepared to take over their control and sec that the public obtained the very fullest possible benefit from the new methods of treatment. The now director of the division of hospitals (Dr D. S. Wylie) was not onlv a distinguished surgeon. but had also Ikicp director of orthopartic surgery for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, There was no 'man In New Zealand holler fitted to control the two hospitals. It was more than doubtful whether the two highly-skilled staffs could be kept together if tbo hospitals were transferred ho a lay department. “The matter will have to be considered by the Government,’' said Dr Valintine, ‘‘andj hope the Health Department’s claim will bo successful.”